Latin American Banana Growers Demand Fairer Prices as Climate Crisis Threatens UK Supplies

Latin American banana producers are calling for fairer prices from international buyers as extreme weather linked to El Niño threatens harvests, reduces export earnings and raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of one of the UK's most important fresh produce supply chains.

Growers across Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the Dominican Republic are facing increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, including damaging winds, heavy rainfall and drought, prompting renewed demands for purchasing agreements that reflect the true cost of sustainable banana production.

According to research highlighted by the Fairtrade Foundation, the latest El Niño event could have particularly serious consequences for producers already struggling with rising labour, fertiliser, energy and transportation costs.

The warning comes as supermarkets face growing scrutiny over purchasing practices that producers argue leave insufficient financial resources to invest in climate resilience, maintain production and protect agricultural workers.

The impact is already being felt in Colombia, a significant supplier to the UK banana market.

Figures from the Association of Banana Growers of Magdalena and La Guajira, reported by Fruitnet and highlighted in The Guardian, show that banana exports from Colombia's Caribbean region fell by 32% to approximately £91 million ($122 million) between July and September 2026.

September was particularly difficult, with export shipments declining by 42% compared with the same month last year.

Export earnings for the month fell from approximately $70 million to $40 million, illustrating the financial pressures facing producers.

The association has warned that climate-related productivity losses, falling export revenues and currency pressures are threatening the economic viability of banana production.

It is urging international markets to establish commercial arrangements that better reflect production costs and support the industry's long-term future.

Research from Fairtrade indicates that the previous El Niño cycle caused significant reductions in banana productivity across several Latin American and Caribbean producing countries.

Carley-Jane Stanton, Fairtrade's climate and environment lead, has warned that the current event could bring more severe consequences than the 2023–24 cycle.

High winds have already affected parts of Colombia, while excessive rainfall is creating difficulties for producers in Ecuador and Peru. Meanwhile, warmer and drier conditions are forecast for the Dominican Republic.

Beyond immediate crop losses, changing weather patterns also increase the challenges associated with pest and disease management, agricultural infrastructure and worker safety.

The worsening production outlook has renewed debate over the prices paid by European retailers for bananas.

Despite substantial increases in production costs, supermarket banana prices have remained comparatively stable over several decades, raising questions about how the additional financial burden is distributed throughout the supply chain.

Research cited by The Guardian from the Ethical Trading Initiative found that prices paid to 66.7% of suppliers surveyed in 2026 failed to cover basic production costs.

The findings suggest that many producers are operating with insufficient margins to invest in infrastructure, improved growing practices and protection against increasingly extreme weather.

Fairtrade is calling for stronger UK legislation to address unfair trading practices, including delayed payments, inadequate purchasing prices and contractual arrangements that transfer disproportionate commercial risks onto farmers.

The organisation argues that more equitable trading relationships are essential to securing the future availability of bananas for British consumers.